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Evaluation of the effect of intratympanic injection of gentamicin for resistant cases of Meniere’s disease on hearing and vestibular functions

The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 31, pages 135–139 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objectives

This study was performed to investigate the effect of a single minimal dose of intratympanic injection (IT) gentamicin on hearing and otolithic function, mainly on the utricle and saccule independently.

Patients and methods

Our study was performed on 10 patients with definite Meniere’s disease diagnosed according to AAO-HNS criteria and who had been showing resistance to medical treatment for more than 6 months with persistent vertigo affecting their lifestyle.

IT of gentamicin was given under local anesthesia through direct perfusion in a single dose of 12 mg (0.3 ml of 40 mg/ml) unilaterally on the lesion side.

Preinjection evaluation included history, otoscopy, formal pure tone audiometry (PTA), and tympanometry. In addition, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and oVEMP were tested. One month after injection, PTA and both VEMP tests were again carried out. Data before and after injection were analyzed and correlated.

Results

No overall significant effect on hearing was found. IT gentamicin had significant effect on cVEMPs with 100% abolition, as well as a statistically significant effect on oVEMP with 70% abolition and distortion of the remaining 30%. In these remaining 30% latencies and amplitudes, there was no significant difference in values before and after injection.

Conclusion

A 12 mg single dose of gentamicin can abolish otolithic function without affecting hearing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Fatthi Baki, Yasser Shewel & Ahmed Galal

  2. Unit of Audiology, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, 182 Omar Lofty Street Sporting Tram Station, Alexandria, 21111, Egypt

    Samir Asal MD

Authors
  1. Fatthi Baki
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  2. Samir Asal MD
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  3. Yasser Shewel
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  4. Ahmed Galal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samir Asal MD.

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None declared.

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Baki, F., Asal, S., Shewel, Y. et al. Evaluation of the effect of intratympanic injection of gentamicin for resistant cases of Meniere’s disease on hearing and vestibular functions. Egypt J Otolaryngol 31, 135–139 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.156099

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1012-5574.156099

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